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A Resolution recognizing the 150th anniversary of The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Tennessee.
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WHEREAS, The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Tennessee celebrated its 150th anniversary this past year; and
WHEREAS, African American Freemasonry or Prince Hall Freemasonry is synonymous with its founder and name sake Prince Hall, who along with 14 other men of African descent gave birth to a world-renowned organization of Freemasonry which accepted men from various backgrounds as long as they were free born and came well recommended; and
WHEREAS, on September 29, 1784 a charter was issued to African Lodge No.1 and was re-styled as African Lodge No. 459. This seminal moment in Freemasonic history would usher into existence all that we revere as Prince Hall Masonry today; and
WHEREAS, on August 31, 1870 duly elected officers met in Nashville, Tennessee for the express purpose of forming a Prince Hall Grand Lodge for the State of Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, the lodges represented at this historic event were Rock City Lodge No. 17 of Nashville, East Star, Lodge No. 20 also of Nashville and Job Thompson Lodge No. 33 of Pulaski, all warranted under the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ohio; and
WHEREAS, in the intervening years, 148 to be exact, the vagaries of growing a fraternal organization such as this had seen all manner of issues especially since in 1870 was a tumultuous time for those men who were suffering from the effects of injustice in the Jim Crow South; and
WHEREAS, Prince Hall Masons have been at the forefront of the civil rights movement as well championing causes which promote community service and a selfless dedication to justice and equality; and
WHEREAS, despite all the obstacles and the social turbulence of the times the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the State of Tennessee has endured and prospered. Inasmuch as one could point to a particular Grand Master as the catalyst for the successes and or failures, it is the broad shoulders of the me...
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